I looked him right in the eye. “I’m not. I promise. Wild horses couldn’t drag me away.”
The tension in his face eased. “Okay.” He relaxed in his chair and I laid my head on his shoulder.
“So, lovebirds, with all the whirlwind of changes, why not add one more and come out to the world aboutSpy vs Sigh?” Christy’s eyes twinkled. “Maybe they’ll make it into a movie. Maybe you’ll be richer than Ford.”
Ashton swore under his breath.
“Um, what?” Ford snapped. “What is happening?”
“Chris.” Holden groaned.
“What? What did I do?” She slunk down looking guilty.
Ford’s gaze flashed around the table of kid-free adults. Jenny, Bo, and Mom were at the beach house, watching the littles. Everyone looked as guilty as Christy.
“Are you serious?” Ford glowered at Ashton. The hurt inhis eyes gutted me. I’d tried to talk Ashton into telling him, but he wouldn’t. He said if Ford knew, the whole world would know. “You’re the authors ofSpy vs Sighand everyone knew but me?”
Now Christy swore. “Sorry,” she whispered at us. “I thought you told him…” She waved her hand. “Everything.”
“No,” Holden said softly. “They only told him about Theo and Charlie.”
Her head dropped into her hands. “I can’t keep up with it all.”
Ford leaned forward, elbows on the table as his gaze tried to light Ashton on fire. “Seriously? What theHades?” Then he stood up, kicking his chair back, his jaw pulsing with irritation.
Ashton sighed. “I love you, bro, but you have a proclivity for not respecting people’s wishes. And Tally and I want to do this without people connecting our last name to yours.”
“I wish you’d stop punishing me for what I did to her.” Ford jammed his hand toward Anna and Blue. “They wouldn’t be together if it weren't for me.”
Blue’s head bobbed. “He’s not wrong.”
Anna looked like she wanted to hide behind her husband.
I reached for Ashton’s hand. He squeezed, calming my nerves.
“Just because it worked out once,” Ashton said as carefully as a bomb disposal expert selecting wires to cut. “Doesn’t mean you should make a habit of it. And the safest way not to be tempted is if there’s no temptation.”
“Sometimes,” Ford spat. “You have to help people along.Sometimes, they don’t know what’s good for them.”
“That’s their decision to make,” Ashton said. “Not yours.”
They stared each other down for a few tense secondsbefore Ford stormed away. He darted between the tables of dinner guests and down onto the sand.
“Hey, I think that’s Ford Dupree!” A teenage girl squealed as he strode by.
Silas and Holden stared at Ashton, lips pursed. Jenny had just gushed to us all last night about how well her boys were getting along.
“Sorry,” Christy said again.
“It’s not your fault.” Ashton rubbed his hands down his thighs and stood, following after Ford.
The waitress showed up with two waiters carrying our tray of food. I waited a moment for Ashton to return but he was still trailing behind Ford as they disappeared into the distance.
I laid a napkin over his food, hoping to trap in some of the heat.
Anna took a bite of a scallop. “I can’t,” she whispered to Blue, her face ghost white. "I can’t.” She spit it into the napkin, looking like she was going to vomit. Anna loved scallops.Loved.
My jaw dropped. "You're pregnant.” I squealed.
